So I’ve made the decision to wet foot this year… I’m getting too old to hop out and balance on rocks at landings. My question is how many pairs of socks to carry. We’re going for 13 days in mid to late June. Just rinse out and re-use a couple pair or do I need more?

I’ve over-packed clothes in the past and wondered what you consider to be the correct amount? Thanks!

For a longer trip I bring a spare pair for wet-footing (in case the main pair breaks down) and 2 pair for camp. When changing out of the wet boots in camp I "wash" the wet socks, rinsing and wringing repeatedly,(maybe some rock smacking) and hang them until the next morning. All socks are merino wool.

I have wet-footed for the last fifteen trips or so, always mid June. This year is June 12th to 20th in the Q.

I bring two warm pairs for around camp, one SUPER warm for those cold nights (my ice fishing socks). That is all. I wear Crocs as a camp shoe with a pair of socks if need be. I LOVE crocs as a camp shoe.

Most trips I only wear socks and night sleeping and almost never anywhere else. On cool trips or mornings I have them if I need them.

I am VERY careful to not get them wet.

I wear hiking Keen Sandals for portages and take them off during long paddles in the canoe. No socks.

I had two trip mates last year that used Crocs for portaging all week and LOVED them. They did have Real Crocs and they were the hiking variety with a little more support. These are what I use for a camp shoe.

I bring two pair of lightweight wool wet foot socks. One pair I'm wearing and one pair for backup. My current favorite wet foot boot is the Keen Voyageur. I also bring a pair of wool socks that are dedicated dry foot camp socks. Regardless of the season my camp shoe is the Keen H20.

Three pair of wool socks whether wet foot or dry foot - travel, camp, sleep.

Thank you!

boonie: "Three pair of wool socks whether wet foot or dry foot - travel, camp, sleep."

Exactly what I do. Darn Tough socks have gotten the most mileage from my experience.

Whatever way you decided to go, may I suggest taking poly (thin) liners for under whatever goes on the outside. One per day or two days. Added benefit of helping with blisters from hiking experience. They weigh nothing, take up no space but let you feel like you have clean socks on every day. Check out rei.com/outlet, or other sites for deals and build your inventory. Yes, I HATE, wearing old, dirty, stinky socks.
Even if what is on the outside is damp makes them feel dry(er).

Last year was my first that was totally wetfooting. I used some keen water sandels and I found some old neoprene socks in a drawers that I can’t even remember for sure where I got them. Any way I felt it worked very good for me. The neoprene socks provided just enough extra cush for the grit that found it’s way into the sandels. I’ve got two trips planned for this year and am planning to use the same again for both.

I have the Keen Voyageurs for traveling and crocs for a camp shoe. Personally, I like having too many socks. I usually bring around 4-5 pairs. Big travel days will get a fresh pair of socks to help prevent blisters. I don't know if that actually helps but it gives me a little peace of mind.

I break out the second pair of camp socks at the point of the trip, usually around the halfway point but sometimes sooner, where I am feeling grungy and wash up. Clean clothes, socks and a little soap and water can make you feel much better in a way that just taking a swim can't.

I use 3-4 pairs of socks, not including liners, which I highly recommend because they'll help to filter out more of the finer stuff that your wool socks let through the weave. 2 of those pairs will be my wet socks, with the other(s) as dry camp socks. Happy feet = happy trips!

YetiJedi: "

boonie: "Three pair of wool socks whether wet foot or dry foot - travel, camp, sleep."

Exactly what I do. Darn Tough socks have gotten the most mileage from my experience."

+1

I have wet footed for 45 years. I bring 2 pairs of socks: one pair stays wet, one pair stays dry for in camp. If a trip is longer than 2 weeks, I might throw in a spare pair, but never did on my northern Canada trips.

I prefer wool socks like Fox River that are cushier and have more stretch for putting on when wet. I hate Smartwool and Darn Tough...no matter what size I get, they are just too tight fitting. But try out whatever you get beforehand to make sure you like it.

For summer travel, I absolutely love wet footing. It keeps my feet cool. Putting on a wet sock on a cool morning takes getting used to, but now I relish it as a sign my day is starting!

alpinebrule: "Whatever way you decided to go, may I suggest taking poly (thin) liners for under whatever goes on the outside. One per day or two days. Added benefit of helping with blisters from hiking experience. They weigh nothing, take up no space but let you feel like you have clean socks on every day. Check out rei.com/outlet, or other sites for deals and build your inventory. Yes, I HATE, wearing old, dirty, stinky socks.
Even if what is on the outside is damp makes them feel dry(er)."

I agree 100% with using sock liners on travel days. I bring 2 pair heavier wool socks and use liners for all portaging.

I bring a lighter wool pair dedicated to sleep in and use around camp. These don’t get wet.

I usually bring two pairs of midweight synthetic wigwam socks for wetfooting. Can start the day mostly dry. One pair of thick wool socks for camp. And one pair of goretex socks - used over the wool and with my wet shoes (astral brewers) for a dry, warm foot in camp.

I have always wet footed. Have gone tripping from early June to mid-Sept.

I have tried Keen sandals for footwear. We do a lot of portaging and those will give me hot spots/blisters over longish portages (180+ rds.) I wore a pair of smart wool type socks with those. I also tended to get debris (sand and sticks) in those. I don't recommend this as a good choice.

I have worn Chotas. Two different models. I love these, but they have both given up the ghost and separated from the sole. I wore those with one pair of smart wool type sock (Kept my feet warm). Almost never got hot spots in these and they gave me good ankle support. These did have a tendency to have the insole move around in them- usually going downhill.

I now have a pair of Simms my wife bought me a couple of years ago. They are a bit heavier. Again, I put one pair of smart wool type sock in these. Great support for my foot and ankles. No hotspots (yet).

The reason I mention ankle support is that I had ankle surgery 3 years ago. I have to wear high tops now to prevent further injury. Even with the Simms I can turn an ankle now and then, but they seem to catch it earlier and I can get back on track faster.

I carry one pair for wet footing and 1 pair for camp.That's all I ever needed. Both light weight Smartwool socks for summer use

Blatz: "I carry one pair for wet footing and 1 pair for camp.That's all I ever needed. Both light weight Smartwool socks for summer use"

Same here and may never use the camp pair.

boonie: "Three pair of wool socks whether wet foot or dry foot - travel, camp, sleep."

This! But I usually also have an extra pair or two–especially when trying to get the best fit in new foot ware.

straighthairedcurly: "I


For summer travel, I absolutely love wet footing. It keeps my feet cool. Putting on a wet sock on a cool morning takes getting used to, but now I relish it as a sign my day is starting!"

Oh man, I cannot stand wet feet let alone wet socks. I love warm, clean, dry socks. It’s the one pair of clothing I relish in the bush.

Tom

I bring 3 pair of Darn Tough wool socks. 1 to wear during the day, a camp pair, and pair to sleep in if needed. I wet foot all spring, summer, and fall.I just got back from a trip where I was walking through calf deep snow on some portage and had no issues with cold feet.

Keens and Crocs.

It is summer, people. The time for socks has passed.

foxfireniner: "Keens and Crocs.


It is summer, people. The time for socks has passed. "

Not where I live. 43’ today in Duluth. Frost tonight.

YetiJedi: "

boonie: "Three pair of wool socks whether wet foot or dry foot - travel, camp, sleep."

Exactly what I do. Darn Tough socks have gotten the most mileage from my experience."

Me too, I'm a three pair wool socks traveler. One pair is always wet (unless they manage to dry in the breeze after I set up camp). The other two, one is for backup and the other is for the exquisite pleasure of putting on dry wool socks after a long day of wet-footing. I learned wet-footing back in the early 60's as a Boy Scout at the Region 7 Canoe Base. Can't imagine doing otherwise.

Dave